Lading strap anchor



Feb. 20, 1962 G, F. OAKLEY LADING STRAP ANCHOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 30. 1959 @"zb NT' z er a c FIZ-G04 I BY y mgm, Y

Hafw g5 Feb. 20, 1962 G. F, OAKLEY LADING STRAP ANCHOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 50. 1959 INVENTOR. z'lber FOa/dey BY United States Patent() 121,799 LADNG STRAP ANCHR Gilbert F. Oakley, Chicago, Ill., assignor to MacLean- Fogg Lock Nut Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 30, 1959, Ser. No. 810,050 7 Claims. (Cl. 10S- 369) This invention relates to lading strap anchors, and more particularly to such devices including a tie anchoring part which normally retracts into a pocket in a wall of a freight car or vehicle 'and which is readily movable to an exposed position for the securement of a lading tie thereto.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a lading strap anchor mountable at an opening in a metal Wall member of a freight hauling vehicle and which has one part serving as a closure for the opening vand a housing to which a second part normally gravitates, the second part being movable through the opening to a position in which it is readily accessible and exposed for the securernent of a lading tie thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide a retractable ladin-g strap anchor for use in a vehicle wall and embodying a movable loop-type element to which a lading tie or strap may be secured and which is mounted for swinging movements through an opening in the wall between a retracted position and an extended position in which it is accessible as a tie anchor and braced by the wall structure.

My invention has for another object the provision of a lading strap anchor including a stationa-ry part mountable over an opening on one side of a wall structure and having surfaces sloped to prevent the collection of material in the opening, and a movable part accessible through the opening for tie anchoring purposes.

lt is another object of this invention to provide a retractable lading strap anchor for use on a metal wall of a freight car and made up of separately fabricated parts which are adapted to assembly when mounted on the car wall.

As another object, my invention has within its purview the provisioin of a lading strap anchor having a retractable closed loop-type tie vanchoring element which embodies substantially coplanar mounting and tie anchoring portions and side portions which are curved laterally of the general plane of the mounting and tie anchoring portions to facilitate the mounting thereof and provide for braced support in use.

r[his invention further comprehends the provision of a lading strap anchor for use on the walls of gondola cars and which has a movable tie anchoring element that normally gravitates to a position exterior to the inner wall surface of the car, as well as being mountable at positions in which protection for the anchor is provided by a top cord which may be a flange or channel which normally extends along the top of a gondola car wall.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views:

FIG. l is a fragmentary side elevational view depicting the adaptation of a preferred embodiment of my lading strap anchors to a gondola car;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view from inside 'a car and depicting a preferred embodiment of my lading strap anchor in an adaptation such as that illustrated in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the outside of the car;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views taken substantial- Mice 2 ly as indicated by lines d-4, 5--5 and 6-6 respectively in FIG. 2, and in the directions indicated by arrows;

FIG. 7 is a top sectional View taken substantially as indicated by a line 7-7 and accompanying arrows in FlG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially at a position indicated by a line 8 8 in FIG. 5 and in the direction of the arrows.

In the exemplary embodiment of this invention which is shown in the accompanying drawings for illustrative purposes, there is depicted a lading strap anchor 10, of the retractable type, which is particularly adapted to use on frieight cars and vehicles having metal side sheets or plates 12, such as gondola cars 13, as depicted in FIG. l. As indicated in this general illustration of FIG. l, a gondola car of a relatively conventional type has a load carrying body 14 which is usually open at the top and which is supported by an underframe 15 from trucks 16 having wheels 17 and located near opposite ends of the car. rille body includes side walls 18 and 19 which extend upwardly from the underframe to a suitable height above a door 2G and are usually reinforced along the top edge by metal channels 22 which are secured to the top margins of the metal side plates 12 and project outwardly therefrom.

At desired positions spaced longitudinally of each side wall, and usually near the tops of the side walls, openings Z3 of a predetermined size and of generally rectangular shape are provided in the side sheet or plate 12 for accommodating the lading strap anchors 1G. In order to accommodate lading strap anchors extending in diierent directions, alternate ones of the openings may be obliquely disposed in the car wall, as shown in FIG. l, while the others generally are horizontally disposed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 8 inclusive, each lading strap anchor 1G includes a housing 24 mounted exteriorly of the side plate 12 and which covers the opening 23. This housing 24 projects outwardly somewhat from the outer surface of the side plate 12 and has movably mounted therein a closed loop-type tie anchoring element 25 which norm-ally gravitates to a position within the housing and exterior to the opening in the side plate 12.

The housing 24, as herein disclosed, is an integrally formed structure having side walls 26 and 27 and a curved back Wall 28. A peripheral flange 29 extends around the front portion of the housing and provides coplanar surface portions for mounting against the outer surface of the wall plate 12 when the housing is placed over the opening 23 in that plate; the housing being secured in place against the plate by welds such as 30 along opposite sides of the exterior of the peripheral flange and welds such as 32 along the exterior of the peripheral flange at the top and bottom portions of the housing. Also, welds such as 33 may be provided along portions of the side walls of the housing to adjoin those side walls to the wall plate 12 on opposite sides of the opening 23.

At the lower portion of the housing, a lip 34 having side portions 35 ts into the lower portion of the opening 23 and extends through the wall plate 12 in llush relationship with the front or inner surface of the Wall plate. Also, the lower portion of the back wall of the housing slopes downwardly and forwardly and presents a smooth inner surface extending to the lip 34 toV atord drainage which prevents dirt, water or other material from collecting in the interior of the housing during the use of the car.

Although the housing and the opening 23 are of widths such that the lip 34 and its side portions 35 t into the lower portion of the housing with the peripheral ilange 29 overlapping the rear or outer surface of the wall plate adjacent the opening, the housing 24 is-considerably higher than the height of the opening 23, so that it over laps a portion of the outer surface of the wall plate above the opening. Also, an integral iin 36 is provided on the rear wall 28 of the housing, which fin extends laterally of that rear wall and projects forwardly therefrom at a position approximately at the level of the top of the opening 23 in the wall plate to strengthen the housing and serve as a fulcrurn for the tie anchoring element. The front edge of the tin 36 terminates in substantially the plane ofthe mounting surface of the peripheral ange 29, so that the lin can be welded to the wall plate 12 at the upper edge of the opening, as indicated by the welded seam 37. The lin 36 is located at the midportion of the back wall of the housing, both laterally and vertically, so that it divides the interior of the housing vertically into upper and lower sections; the upper section being located above the opening 23 in the wall plate and behind that plate and the lower section being exposed through the opening and directly therebehind. At its lateral ends, the iin terminates in spaced relationship to the side walls 26 and 27 of the housing, thereby leaving spaces or channels 38 adjoining the upper and lower sections at the opposite sides of the housing.

The ringtype tie anchoring element 25 has mounting and tie anchoring portions 39 and 40, which portions, in the disclosed structure, are of rounded or generally circular section and are substantially straight, as well as being disposed in spaced and substantially parallel relationship to one another. The mounting and tie anchoring portions 39 and 40 are integrally adjoined by side portions 42 and 43. In both width and height, the ring-type tie anchoring element is smaller than the interior of the housing, so that it is readily and movably mountable within the housing.

In the assembly of the parts of the disclosed lading strap anchor, the ring-type tie anchoring element is placed within the housing 24 before the housing is secured in place relative to the opening 23. The mounting portion 39 of the tie anchoring element is put into the upper section of the housing, so that the tie anchoring element normally hangs from the iin 36 with the side portions 42 and 43 extending through the spaces 38 at the opposite sides of the housing and so that the tie anchoring portion 40 is exposed through the opening 23 in the wall plate.

Near their upper ends, the side portions 42 and 43 of the tie anchoring element 25 are bent rearwardly toward the back wall of the housing, as indicated at 44 in FIG. 5. By providing such curvature in the side portions of the tie anchoring element, it can be swung outwardly to a projecting tie anchoring position, as indicated at 25a in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, in which position the side portions engage the top edge of the opening 23 to provide a definite stop for the outward and upward swinging movement of the element when it is in use for tie anchoring purposes. In order to accommodate the curved side portions of the tie anchoring element within the housing when it is swung to its normal retracted position, the rear wall 28 of the housing has curved rearwardly projecting portions or bulges 45 and 46 which provide inner .recesses 47 and 48 respectively within the housing and in alignment with the spaces 38 at the opposite sides of the housing. Thus, when the tie anchoring element is in its normal retracted position Within the housing 24 and resting against the iin 36, the side portions extend through the spaces 38 and project into the recesses 47 and 48, with the tie anchoring portion within the housing behind the exposed surface of the wall plate and accessible for outward swinging movement through the opening 23.

Being mounted as shown herein, the disclosed lading strap anchors have a normal retracted position such that no part thereof projects into the interior of the car on which they are used. The housings for the anchors are exterior to the car wall and have less depth than the outward projection of the top cord 22 which is normally provided along the top of the car wail, and are thereby normally protected from damage by that channel or angle. However, the anchors are readily accessible from the interior of the car and when swung outwardly into engagement with the top edge of the openings, they alford a hrm and rugged element to which a tie, such as a lading strap may be anchored, as depicted at 49 in FIGS. 5 and 7.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In combination with a metal wall plate of a freight vehicle wherein the wall plate has inner and outer surfaces and an opening of predetermined size extending therethrough, a lading strap anchor comprising a housing for mounting over said opening on the outer surface of the wall plate and having integral side and back walls, said housing having a height greater than that of the opening and a width such that it covers the opening laterally, said housing being mounted to cover the opening vertically and overlying a portion of the outer surface of the Wall plate above the opening, said housing also having an integral fin therein at the lateral mid-portion thereof and extending from the back Wall thereof to a position adjacent the top of said opening, said iin being shorter than the width of the opening and leaving spaces between the opposite ends thereof and the side walls of the housing, said back wall of the housing sloping downwardly and forwardly into contact with the wall plate at the lower edge of said opening to provide for the gravitational movement of extraneous material from the housing through the opening, and a closed loop-type lading strap anchoring element having opposed mounting and tie anchoring portions in spaced and generally coplanar relationship to one another and integral side portions joining opposite ends of the mounting and tie anchoring portions, said lading strap anchoring element being narrower than said opening and having a height less than that of the interior of the housing, and the mounting portion of the lading strap anchoring element being supported for rotational movement on said lin between said Wall plate and the back wall of the housing with said side portions normally extending through said spaces.

2.` In the combination as defined in claim 1, said side portions of the closed loop-type lading strap anchoring element being curved at positions spaced from said mounting portion and in a direction lateral to the plane of the mounting and tie anchoring portions and away from said plate, so that the lower portion of the lading strap anchoring element may be swung through said opening to a projecting position before said side portions engage said plate at the top of said opening to limit the outward movement of the lading strap anchoring element from the housing.

3. In the combination as deiined in claim 2, the back wall of said housing having recesses therein aligned with said spaces and in which the curved side portions of the lading strap anchoring element normally hang.

4. In combination with a metal side wall plate of a freight vehicle having inner and outer surfaces and an opening of predetermined size extending therethrough, a lading strap anchor comprising a housing having side walls, a front opening and a back wall providing surfaces for mounting against said wall plate adjacent said opening, partitioning and support means extending laterally of the housing and projecting forwardly within the housing from the mid-portion of the back wall to a position substantially flush with said surfaces of the housing side walls to divide the interior of the housing into upper and lower sections, said partitioning and supporting means being spaced from the side walls of the housing at the opposite ends of said means, and a closed loop-type lading strap anchoring element having mounting and tic anchonng portions in spaced and generally coplanar relationship to one another and side portions joining the ends of the mounting and tie anchoring portions, said closed loop-type lading strap anchoring element being of a size normally to t movably within said housing with the said mounting portion thereof in said upper section of the housing and confined between said back Wall, said partitioning and supporting means and said wall plate, said side portions of the anchoring element passing through the spaces at opposite ends of said partitioning and supporting means, and said tie anchoring portion having a normal position in said housing above the bottom edge of said opening in the wall plate and adjacent the outer surface thereof, said closed loop-type lading strap anchoring element also having said side portions curved longitudinally thereof and being supported by said partitioning and supporting means for swinging movements from said housing to a position in which the side portions project through said opening in the wall plate and support the tie anchoring portion in an exposed position spaced from the inner surface of said Wall plate.

5. In a lading strap anchor as defined in claim 4, and wherein the curves of said side portions of the closed loop-type lading strap anchoring element are relatively abrupt bends at positions generally aligned with the ends of said partitioning and supporting means and in directions such that the mid-regions of said side portions are normally bowed rearwardly of the housing, and said side portions being swingable to positions in which they engage the upper edge of said opening in said wall plate to limit the swinging movement of the lading strap anchoring element in one direction.

6. In a lading strap anchor as dened in claim 4, said back wall of the housing having recesses therein substantially aligned with the spaces at opposite ends of said partitioning and supporting means and the curved portions of the closed loop-type lading strap anchoring element.

7. In a lading strap anchor as dened in claim 4, the portion of said back wall in the lower section of said housing sloping downwardly and forwardly to the bottom of the front opening in the housing to provide for the gravitational movement of extraneous material from the housing through said opening.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,226,667 Love Dec. 3l, 1940 2,291,472 Johnston July 28, 1942 2,312,119 Nystrom et al Feb. 23, 1943 2,587,882 Oakley Mar. 4, 1952 2,623,477 Tuttle Dec. 30, 1952 2,756,693 Frost July 31, 1956 2,811,116 Williamson Oct. 29, 1957 2,846,958 Cale Aug. 12, 1958 2,856,865 Reynolds et al Oct. 21, 1958 2,919,663 Neuhart Jan. 5, 1960 2,939,406 Wilkoi June 7, 1960 

